Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. Issue 127 July 12, 2013

‘Warhorse’ battle tested, battle readyStory by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch Photos by Sgt. Marcus Fichtl2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

FORT IRWIN, Calif. – A month-long exercise in the Mojave Desert concluded July 5 for more than 3,500 Soldiers from the “Warhorse” Brigade at the National Training Center, Fort

Irwin, Calif. The training event, which began June 4, focused on the 2nd ABCT,

4th Inf. Div., conducting multiple training objectives including offensive operations, defensive operations, movement to contact operations, logistical resupply and key leader engagements.

“In 21 years in the Army and 10 rotations at training centers, I have never seen a brigade combat team come out with a better state of readiness or to have been so successful as 2nd brigade was,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Koloski, deputy commanding officer, 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div.

“Warhorse” Soldiers took advantage of the wide open spaces at NTC

to conduct training from company through brigade levels in order to prepare for a hybrid threat.

“Training here gives us the flexibility to maneuver on open ground against a common enemy with similar capabilities and maneuver through an urban environment while destroying an insurgent treat,” said Capt. Nicholas Rinaldi, commander, Company C, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg, 2nd ABCT.

Rinaldi, who has been in command a few months, said he cherished the training with his Soldiers.

“It’s great and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” said Rinaldi. “These guys work extremely hard to make sure that our vehicles are ready to go, that they are trained properly and when we execute a mission, they always succeed.”

Soldiers also said they enjoyed the training.“The training was pretty good,” said Spc. Christopher Drawbond,

armor crewman, Company C, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg. “This was the first time I have really done force-on-force training.”

Soldiers of 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd ABCT provide security for a meeting between military and local civilian leaders during a training rotation to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., June 24. Soldiers at all levels participated in the simulated key leader engagements that focused on the brigade’s ability to interact with a local population and build relations.

Warhorse PridePage 2 Issue 127 July 12, 2013

Soldiers of 2nd ABCT receive praise from Col. Omar Jones, commander, 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., during an award ceremony toward the end of the unit’s rotation to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., July 1.

The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pide is an Army-funded news-letter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Contents of the Warhorse Pride are not necessarily the view of, nor endorsed by the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public

Affairs Office. The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commentary and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the publication. All issues of The Warhorse Pride can be viewed online from your home computer at www.facebook.com/2bct4id Submissions should be e-mailed to the editor:andrew.a.porch.mil@mail.mil

Col. Omar Jones IV........................2nd BCT CommanderCommand Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen....2nd BCT CSMMaj. Chris Maestas.................................................PAO OICStaff Sgt. Andrew Porch..................................PAO NCOICStaff Sgt. Ruth Pagan.........................Layout and DesignSgt. Marcus Fichtl.......................................................Editor

Warhorse Pride

Soldiers of 2nd ABCT stand in line for a pre-manifest as they prepare to leave National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., July 2, . The Soldiers rode a bus, a ride that lasted 17-20 hours.

Prior to conducting the brigade force-on-force training, Drawbond and his unit participated in battalion level live fire training.

“It was definitely an eye-opening experience,” said Drawbond. “You have to be cognizant of a lot more, and know what the units to your left and right are doing at all times.”

Brigade senior leadership said the Soldiers came prepared to accomplish any mission thrown at them during the challenging month.

“Whether it was a Soldier pumping fuel from a support battalion or a loader on a tank from one of our two combined arms battalions; from the entire spectrum everyone had to be on their game in order for the brigade to succeed,” said Koloski. “I think the Soldiers at all levels were really challenged and they brought all of their training in their military occupation specialty to bear.”

Rinaldi echoed Koloski’s statement and said that while his Soldiers came into the exercise well trained, they came out of it with more knowledge and skills.

“The Soldiers are extremely well trained,” said Rinaldi. “This is our second collective training exercise, and I thought we were completely trained after Pinon Canyon. We came out here and learned a whole bunch of new things. Everyone learned something out here.”

Koloski said attending a major training center is a very important part to preparing for deployment.

“Do everything in your power to come to The National Training Center or go to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., because those are where your final skills are honed and where you are really tested,” he said.

With an upcoming mission to deploy to Kuwait later this year as the U.S. Central Command theatre reserve, the brigade leadership said they feel the brigade is ready for anything.

“Coming out of here, this is probably the most prepared and ready brigade in the United States Army,” said Koloski.

Spc. Lindsey Hoke, intelligence analyst, HHT, 2nd STB, operates the radio of a Humvee during the 2nd ABCT’s rotation to the National Training Center, June. 23, 2013.

3-16 FARDyanne Beckman.........................................................526-1635dyanne.m.beckman.civ@mail.mil

1-67 ARSGT James Riggs...........................................................524-1476james.g.riggs.mil@mail.mil

204th BSBMSG Nolan Johnson....................................................526-3696nolan.j.johnson.mil@mail.mil

2-8 INUrsula Pittman...........................................................526-0727ursula.t.pittman.civ@mail.mil 2 STBSGT Tanisha Scott..............................................503-2602tanisha.m.scott.mil@mail.mil

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2nd ABCTValarie Adams............................................................524-4797valarie.a.adams.civ@mail.mil

1-10 CAVFrancy Arvizu..............................................................526-2051francy.arvizu.civ@mail.mil

FRSA Information

Family Readiness GroupPage 3 Issue 127 July 12, 2013

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13 14 15 16 17 18Jazz in the Garden @ Garce and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church 7:00 p.m.

Tribe with Susan Rissman @ Stargazers Theatre and Event Center8:00 p.m.

Babette’s Bastille Day Cabaret @ The Millibo Art Theater9:00 p.m.$15

Native American Intertribal Festival and Traditional Pow-wow @ Freedom Financial Services Expo Center10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Second Sunday Jazz Affair @ Olympian Plaza Reception and Event Center1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.$10

Popsicle Bike Ride @ Ameri-ca the Beautiful Park1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

“In a Dark Dark House” @ Funky Little Theater Company7:30 p.m. $10

Full Moon Hike @ Cheyenne Mountain State Park8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Public Free Day @ Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Colorado Springs Conserv-tory Scenes and Opera Performance @ Colorado College, Edith Kinney Gay-lord Cornerstone Arts Center7:00 p.m.

Beauty and the Beast @ The Simpich Showcase Mari-onette Theatre 2:30 p.m.$12- $14

Passage: the Bible Experi-ence @ Passage the Bible Experience10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m

Black and White Fine Art Photography Exhibition @ The London Commercial Group5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

First Adventure with Nature @ Cheyenne Mountain Zoo8:45 a.m.$18.25

Visit www.coloradosprings.com for more info

Better Opportunities for Single SoldiersPage 4 Issue 127 July 12, 2013